Duke Forest’s 2025 Annual Gathering

5:30 PM Reception
6:15 PM Lecture Hall doors open
6:30 PM Annual Gathering

Join us for the 2025 Duke Forest Annual Gathering, a special evening that brings together our Duke and community audiences to celebrate another year of discovery, engagement, and stewardship at the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory.

This year’s program will showcase highlights of the Forest’s work across its three strategic areas—teaching and research, management and stewardship, and community engagement—demonstrating the enduring value of the Duke Forest as a living laboratory, an experiential classroom, a model for sustainable resource management, and a cherished community resource.

Duke Forest Executive Director Sara Childs will deliver the keynote address, sharing updates and reflections on the year’s progress and the exciting opportunities ahead. Guests will also hear from Adam Spiller, MEM ’05, Vice President at KCI Technologies on his experiences with the New Hope Creek Restoration Projects. These talks will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

*Due to overwhelming demand, we have surpassed the capacity for this event. We will admit members of the waitlist if spots become available. SIGN-UP HERE*

About Sara Childs
Sara Childs has led the Office of the Duke Forest for over a decade.  She guides strategic efforts to advance the Forest’s position as a university and community-wide resource, and as an executive administrator, she works with fellow Duke leaders to advance university-wide goals. She received her Master of Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment in 2008 and now holds an Adjunct Instructor position at the school. She is also a founding member of the regional Triangle Connectivity Collaborative.

About Adam Spiller
Adam Spiller serves as Vice President and Service Line Leader for Water and Environment South at KCI Technologies, the firm responsible for designing the new clear-span bridge for the New Hope Creek Restoration Projects. A lifelong Durham resident, Adam earned his Master of Environmental Management from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment in 2005 and has been instrumental in moving the restoration projects forward.